Commontide

Preparation for Personal Prayer

Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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Commontide
Blessing
Prayers

The Burial of the Dead — Blessing of the Grave

O God, whose blessed Son was laid in a tomb in the garden: Bless, we pray, this grave, set apart for the repose of your servant N., that he whose body is buried here may rest from his labors in peace and quietness, until the resurrection on the last day, when the New Jerusalem comes down, the dead are raised, and the righteous are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Found in the Prayer Book

  • Burial Of The DeadThe Burial of the Dead

Provenance

TEC 1979 (expanded ACNA 2019)

Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.

A prayer for blessing a grave outside consecrated ground, first appearing in the 1979 Episcopal prayer book and significantly expanded in the 2019 ACNA revision with scriptural imagery of the resurrection and the marriage supper of the Lamb.